Five people agree to participate in Flint Ceasefire program after first intervention

FLINT, Michigan -- Six of seven people invited to the city's first Ceasefire call-in meeting attended the anti-crime intervention session yesterday, officials said in a press conference today.

Police Chief Alvern Lock said five of the six nonviolent criminal suspects offered a second chance through the program agreed to accept help and sign onto a series of steps to turn their lives around.

The sixth person was already seeking help through another program, said Lock.

And the one man who didn't show up will be arrested and prosecuted aggressively, Lock said.

For the five who have signed on, police will hold off on getting arrest warrants finalized, as long as the participants stick to a strict program.

Lock said those invited were suspected of drug crimes and had no criminal history.

"Last night was a very successful call-in for all of us," said Lock. "We offered some lifelines for some individuals and hopefully we've offered them something that will change lives, and not only their own lives, but the lives of the people who live in the community around them.

The program is meant to pool community resources to prevent nonviolent offenders from progressing to violent crimes.

"Our community's movement against violent crime is gaining strength," said Mayor Dayne Walling at the press conference. "Working together, we will reduce crime, we will reduce violent crime and drug activity in our community.

"It's gong to take tough enforcement combined with the community's help."

Officials have not yet set a date for the next call-in and are working on identifying more eligible participants in the city's 2nd Ward, where the program is initially being focused due to high crime statistics.